Chapman Tripp is acting for
AJ Park as the boutique law firm that specialises in intellectual property (IP) joins an Australia-based IP services firm.
IPH Limited, an ASX-listed Sydney-headquartered business, has
agreed to buy AJ Park’s IP operations for $66.1m. AJ Park has more than 200 staff and employs 30% of all registered patent attorneys in New Zealand.
The deal is the first acquisition of a New Zealand patent attorney firm after restrictions on foreign ownership of such firms were struck earlier this year.
Chapman Tripp partner Josh Blackmore, aided by solicitor Tom Jemson, is acting on the deal.
“The first of its kind, the deal leverages recent changes to ownership regulations for patent attorneys in New Zealand, and represents a further step in the integration of the trans-Tasman patent attorney professions,” Blackmore said.
Related stories:
IPH Limited acquires top Kiwi IP specialist
AU, NZ firms join forces in major trans-Tasman acquisition
